A father’s passion for Hammocks Beach a lasting legacy

Friday

Jun 14, 2013 at 12:01 AMJun 14, 2013 at 7:46 PM

On this Father’s Day we say “thank you” to the man who gave us life. I suppose it’s also fitting on this day to salute our forefathers as well for their insight, vision and steely determination that made this country the envy of the world.

Mike McHugh

On this Father’s Day we say “thank you” to the man who gave us life. I suppose it’s also fitting on this day to salute our forefathers as well for their insight, vision and steely determination that made this country the envy of the world.

On June 6, the Swansboro Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual banquet, at which the new board was introduced and special honors were bestowed. It was my privilege that night to introduce the chamber’s Man of the Year, David Pearson of Swansboro.

Following are prepared remarks I used to introduce Pearson — I have his wife, Pam, to thank for providing me background material.

As an aside: When I began to compose my narrative and later when I delivered the speech, Pearson’s achievements and dedication to so many causes — particularly his volunteer efforts with Hammocks Beach State Park — it struck me again why we Americans are a great people.

The following is my introduction speech for David Pearson.

“When Theodore Roosevelt was elected our nation’s 26th president in 1901, there were no such things as national parks or state recreation areas. Roosevelt, known to many as our country’s conservationist president, would lead an administration that would see the creation of the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service that we know today.

“Under Roosevelt, citizens from all walks of life could begin to enjoy the beauty and splendor of places such as Crater Lake in Oregon, Wind Cove in South Dakota, Sullys Hill in neighboring North Dakota, Mesa Verde in Colorado and the Platt region of Oklahoma.

“Roosevelt recognized man’s connection to his natural environment and used his bully pulpit to ensure that future generations would not be denied the pleasure of enjoying natural, unspoiled lands. When the two-term president left office in 1909, his actions had helped preserve and keep in the public domain more than 230 million acres.

“Six years later, many environmentally conscience North Carolinians channeled their energies and passions into creating Mount Mitchell State Park, thus beginning an endeavor that would grow to 35 state parks and four recreational areas throughout the state.

“The value of our state parks is not lost on the citizens and visitors who patronize our beautiful preserves. The tourists and guests who visit our state parks have a profound impact on local economies of the towns near which these parks are located. According to the governor’s office, outdoor recreation in North Carolina annually contributes $19.2 billion to our state’s economy with more than $400 million coming into state coffers as a direct result of people visiting our state parks.

“Now fast forward six decades or so: In the early 1970s, a young boy and his family moved from Quantico, Va., and began to call Swansboro home. Like many families, they were brought here by the military.

“David Pearson, who was recently honored as the Swansboro Area Chamber of Commerce’s Man of the Year, would matriculate in its public schools and graduate from Swansboro High School in 1982. He would continue his education by studying computer programming at Coastal Carolina Community College. While contemporaries such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Larry Ellision were already involved in the same field of study and would help revolutionize the way we live, Pearson embarked on a path of community service and public advocacy that some would argue has had as much effect on those he touched as the computer nerds from Harvard and denizens of Silicon Valley.

“In practically every organization with which he became affiliated, he not only became deeply involved but attained positions of leadership. In 1988, six years after graduating high school, he was accepted into the Swansboro Rotary — a civic group whose members endeavor to place service above self. He would serve as secretary, vice president and eventually president of Swansboro Rotary. He continued his Rotarian service as assistant district governor for Rotary International District 7730 for three years.

“He valued public service and ran for a seat on the town board. He was elected Swansboro town commissioner in 1997, serving one term.

“He held leadership positions on the board of directors of the Jacksonville Board of Realtors, serving as its president in 1999.

“He gave back to his alma mater by serving on the board and as president of the Swansboro High School Century Club from 2003 to 2012.

“He currently serves on the Swansboro Tourism Development Authority as well as on the Sea Turtle Advisory Committee. Of course, he is a fellow chamber member.

“But it was a seemingly innocuous boat ride with his wife by his side and Park Superintendent Sam Bland on board that led Pearson to get involved with Hammocks Beach State Park.

He had innocently asked Bland: How do things get done here?

Bland simply replied, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Bland had no idea what those six words had ignited inside our Man of the Year.

“From that day forward, Pearson has been applying lubricant. I bet there isn’t a member of our state’s General Assembly who has been within earshot of him who isn’t aware of his passion for Hammocks Beach State Park with its pristine sand dunes, changing channels and beloved sea turtles.

“Here, I’ll read word for word from the outline written about our Man of the Year as provided to me by the woman who knows him best — his wife: ‘He has worked tirelessly to protect the remaining 289 acres of the Hammocks Beach Corporation from being developed and advocated for the property to become part of HBSP.’

“The irony in those words is that Pearson’s 9-to-5 job is that of a Swansboro real estate agent who, in most situations, would love nothing more than to have more waterfront property come to market.

“But I believe the Chamber’s Man of the Year has other reasons why he chooses to preserve this land. I bet he’s doing it for future generations — perhaps for the two young ladies that were seated next to him at the chamber’s annual banquet.

“When daughters Jessica and Kristen, both Swansboro girls and alumna of Wake Forest, return home years later with their families and enjoy a day on Bear Island, they can tell their children, ‘Your grand-daddy helped preserve this local treasure.’”

Swansboro resident Mike McHugh is an advertising account executive with The Daily News. Readers can email him at: mike.mchugh@jdnews.com.

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